Wire fabric making machine



Jan. 19, 1937. A. E. BLASHILL 2,068,224

WIRE FABRIC MAKING MACHINE Original Filed June 18, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 //v ve/v Tc 3 Jan. 19, 1937. A. E. BLASHILL 2,068,224

' WIRE FABRIC MAKING MACHINE I Original FiledJune l8, 1V931 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 v v-GN T07 Jan. 19, 1937. A. E. BLASHILL 2,063,224

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WIRE FABRIC MAKING MACHINE Original Filed Jun 18, 1951 10 Sheets -Shee t 4 Jan. 19, 1937. I BLAsHlLL 2,068,224

I I WIRE FABRIC MAKING MACHINE I Original Filed J une I8, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 f s' OOOO'OOOI Jan. 19, 1937, A. E. BLASHILL WIRE FABRIC MAKING MACHINE I Original Filed June 18, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 g lt) 6 0'0 0 Jan- 19, 1937. A. E. BLAS-HILL ,068, 2

WIRE FABRIC MAKING MACHINE ori in-a1 Filed June 18, leaf 1o Sheets-Sheet '7 Jan. l9,

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WIRE FABRIC MAKING MACHINE Original Filed June 18,,1951 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 HKBQSAZ Z2 I Jan. 19, 1937. A. E. BLASHILL I 2,063,224

WIRE FABRIC MAKING MACHINE Original Filed June" 18, 1931 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 //v re/v 72/3 Jan. 19, 1937.

l0 SheetsSheet l0 A. E. BLASHILL WIRE FABRIC MAKING MACHINE Original Filed June 18,1931

Patented Jan. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES Arsr OFFlCE WIRE FABRIC MAKING momma Arthur Ernest Blashill, Withington, Manchester, England 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for producing wire fabric of the kind which is composed of line and stay wires connected together at their points of intersection with each other by means of separate wire locks which are formed by the action of pairs of plungers which operate together to bend the staple wires around an element of staple formation so as to produce the staples whereafter one of the plungers moves relatively to its neighboring plunger in order to move the formed staples into dies in which the staples are formed into the wire locks which secure the line and stay wires together.

The application is a division from my co-pending application Serial No. 545,321 filed June 18th, 1931, and patented April 2nd, 1935, under Patent No. 1,996,061.

The present invention has for one of its objects the provision of an improved mechanism for forming the staples for the wire locks and feeding the staple-forming wires to such mechanism.

The invention also has for its object the provision of an improved and efficient mechanism for actuating the various reciprocable parts of the machine.

In the accompanying draWings:--

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine to which this invention relates.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan of one end of the machine showing the various slides and actuating bars therefor provided by the present invention.

Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 2 of the other end of the machine.

Figure 4 is a view of either Figure 2 or 3 in cross section and showing a pair of die elements in the open position.

2 Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan viewof Figure 4 with the die elements in the closed position.

Figure '7 is a sectional elevation taken on the line A-A of Figure 6.

Figures 8 to 13 are detail views illustrating the various cams provided for actuating the different parts of the machine.

Figure 14 is a vertical cross section of one of the mechanisms provided for twisting the ends of the'stay wires around one of the outside line wires and of one of the fingers provided for defleeting the ends of the stay wires into the path of the twisting mechanism.

Figure 15 is a cross section of the main cam shaft of the machine.

Figure 16 1s a part sectional elevation of the staple-forming mechanism in Figure 5 looking in,

the direction of the arrow a, in Figure 5 and showing the staple-forming slide in an advanced position where it has cut off a portion of the staplewire.

Figure 17 is a detail view of the staple-forming mechanism.

Figure 18 is a cross section taken on the line C-C in Figure 6.

Figure 19 is a cross section taken on the line B-B in Figure 6.

Figures 20 and 21 are detail views illustrating the staple-forming mechanism in different operative positions.

Figure 22 is a detail View illustrating a modified form of anvil for the staple-forming mechanism.

Figure 23 is a similar view to Figure 22 but, showing the anvil in itsnormal position ready for the forming of a staple.

. Figure 24 is a sectional elevation of the mecha- 1 nism provided in accordance with the invention for feeding the staple wires to the slides which operate to produce the staples.

Figure 25 is an elevation of Figure 24, and

Figure 26 is a cross section of Figure 24 taken on the line D-D thereof.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 illustrates the general construction and arrangement of the machine to which the present invention relates and which is described in mysaid Patent Specification No. 1,996,061.

The line wires of the'fabric are indicated by the reference I and are fed through the machine by the action of a rotary drum 2 over which the line wires are passed in spaced relation and held on the drum by jaws 3.

The stay wires of the fabric are indicated by the reference 4 and are fed across the line wires and between co-operating die elements 5, (Figures 2 to 7) by a feeding device 6.

The wire locks which secure the inside line wires with the stay wires are indicated by the reference '5 and are formed from wires 8 (of which one is seen in Figure 4) which are severed into lengths and fed into the paths of reciprocamoved into engagement with the elements 5 in order to form the wire locks and being moved away from the elements 5 in order to permit of the fabric being advanced through the machine and another stay wire positioned between the die elements 5, 50.

The twisted ends of the stay wires are indicated by the reference l2 (Figure 1) and are formed by rotatable twisting heads I3 (Figure 14) having twisting fingers i4 thereon with which the ends of the stay wires are engaged by being deflected by the action of reciprocable fingers l5 which move transversely to the direction of feed of the stay wires.

The staple-forming slides 9, the staple feeding slides H, the anvils H), the movable die elements 50 and the fingers l5 which deflect the ends of the stay wires into the path of the twisting fingers M are actuated in the required sequence by the reciprocation of bars 9 H Ill 5!) and I5 (Figures 2 and 15) respectively which are disposed in parallel relationship with each other and transversely of the said parts which they actuate.

The bars 9*, il Ic 5% and l5 are moved in one direction in order to effect actuation of the said parts which they control so as to perform their particular functions by the action of cams 9 H la 50 and 15' respectively carried on a shaft l6 (Figure 2) which is rotated in a clockwise direction by means of a right-hand worm ll on the main driving shaft |8 of the machine engaging with a spur wheel I9 on the shaft Iii. These cams are arranged to operate in grooves formed in blocks l9, to which the respective bars 9 etc. are adjustably connected, and the blocks are provided with rollers 20 with which the cams engage to move the bars in the direction of the arrows at in Figures 8 to 13..

The return movement of the bars H H 5% and l5 in the direction of the arrow 17 is effected by the action of other cams 9, H, 5|] and I?) provided upon a shaft 2| which is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction by means of a left-hand worm 22 on the main driving shaft l3 engaging with a spur wheel 23 on the shaft 2|, these further cams operating against further rollers 24 on the blocks 9 in order to promote the required return movement of the said bars.

The return movement of the bar Ill which actuates anvils around which the staples are formed may be arranged to take place automatically by the action of a spring 25 (Figure 2).

The reciprocable bars N and 50 are connected with the staple feeding slides II and the movable die parts 55, respectively, through the medium of adjustable links 26 (Figures 2, 3 and 4) which are formed in separable parts connected together by pins 21 which are adapted to shear under excessive strain and so prevent damage to the said bars, slides and dies. The dies 50 are carried by movable parts 28 (Figures 5, 6 and 7) with which the connecting rods for actuating these die parts are connected.

Motion of the bar 3 is imparted to the stapleforming slides 9 through the medium of teeth .23 on the bar engaging teeth 3i! on the slides 9 and the teeth 29 may be provided upon separate sections connected with the bar 9 by pins 3| adapted to shear under excessive strain.

Motion of the bar If: is imparted to the fingers l5, which serve to deflect the ends of the stay wires into the path of the twisters I3, I4, also through the medium of teeth 32 on the bar engaging teeth 33 on the fingers l5 and the teeth 32 may also be provided on separate sections connected to the bar l5 by shear pins 34.

The rotable shaft l6 carrying the above described cams 9 etc. also carries a cam 35 (Figures 2, 4, 13 and 15) which is adapted to reciprocate a carriage 36 having teeth 37 thereon arranged in engagement with teeth 38 on an arm 39 which is secured upon a rock shaft 40 carrying guides 4| which are movable with respect to other guides 42 disposed betwen the dies 5, 58 and which guides 4|, 42 serve to support the stay wires in positon within the dies. Reciprocation of the carriage 38 in one direction will cause the shaft 40 to rock so as to move the stay wire guides 6| into their open positons and the return movement of these guides 4| may be effected automatically by the action of a spring 43.

The wire for forming the staples is fed to the staple-forming mechanism through a bush 8| (Figures 16, 1'7 and 19) with which the front edge of the slide 9 is adapted to have a shearing relation so that a portion of the staple wire fed through the bush into the path of the slides 9, I I may be severed from its main supply 8.

A strip of staple wire severed to form a staple is indicated at 82 in Figure 17 and is arranged to be supported at five points constituted by the anvil H), a fixed part 83 (see Figure 6) for the slide 9, the forward edge of the slide 9, the top of the bush 8| and the inside of a spring-controlled plunger 84 carried by the slide 9.

The plunger 84 (Figures 16 and 17) is normally projected beyond the forward end face of the slide 9 by a spring 84 and the plunger is so disposed on this slide that its projected end lies immediately beneath the plane of movement of the other slide I so that the plunger serves positively to maintain the severed staple wire 82 in the path of the slide so that the wire will be positioned for bending around the staple-forming anvil and the formed staple will be positioned for engagement by the slide in order to force the staple into the die 5, 53. The side of the projected portion of the plunger 84 which lies adjacent to the slide II is cut away, as indicated at 84 (Figure 16) so as to afford adequate bearing surface for the staple wire 82.

The means for feeding the staple wire to the bush 8| comprises a reciprocable toothed bar or rack 85 (Figures 24, 25 and 26) anda toothed slide 86 intermeshing with said rack, such slide carrying a friction clutch device 81 consisting of three or more balls 88 (tempered if necessary) arranged in a hardened internally conical sleeve 89, the staple wire being passed between such balls and through a sleeve 89 housed within the sleeve 89 andbeing gripped and fed by the balls upon actuation of the. slide 86. A similar friction clutch 81 is arranged above the aforedescribed clutch (which is preferably fed in a vertical direction) and is adapted to grip and hold the staple wire during the return stroke of the slide 86.

The internally conical sleeve 89 may be secured in position by a grub screw 90 and axial movement of the sleeve 89 is permitted by adjustment of a screwed plug 9|. By slacking back this plug, for example, and having reference to the position of the parts, as illustrated in Figure 12, the sleeve 89 would be free to move upwardly thereby permitting outward movement of the balls. Such adjustment of these parts would permit the passage of wires of different thicknesses through the clutch mechanism. The extent of movement of the sleeve 89 would be limited by the position of the plug 9!.

As previously mentioned, the. cut lengths of staple wire are formed into staples by the operation of the slide 9 in conjunction with the shaped anvil Ill. The said'anvil is reciprocated across the path of the slide 9 by means of an eccentric pin 92 (Figure 19) which engages with a cross slot 93 in the anvil and. is carried upon a shaft 96 which carries a toothed wheel 95 arranged to be rotated by the reciprocable toothed rack or bar Hi the arrangement and manner of operation of these parts being such that the anvil is retracted when a staple has been formed in order to permit movement of the slide l l to force the staple into the dies 5, 50.

The slide 9 is formed with a slot 96 (Figure 19) contiguous with the slot in which the stapledriving slide H moves and in the staple-forming operation the anvil and the staple wire formed around the latter will be received in the slot 96, the anvil being subsequently withdrawn from such slot leaving the staple ready to be driven into the dies 5, 59 by the subsequent operation of the staple driving slide H.

In a modification (Figures 22 and 23) the bar I9 is dispensed with and the staple-forming slide 9 is formed with a bevelled surface 9'! adapted to engage a bevelled surface. 98 formed on the anvil l9 which in this case is normally urged into the path of the slides 9, H by the action of a spring 99. V

In such a modification the cam surface at the front edge of the staple-forming slide, upon movement of the latter, operates to push the. anvil out of the slot 96 above referred to until the staple, forced by the driver slide l i, can pass the plunger, and, acting on the bevel 98 of the latter, pushes the plunger completely out of its path.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a machine for forming wire fabric composed of wires secured together at their points of intersection by means of wire locks the combination therewith of means adapted to feed wire to the machine from. which the wire locks may be formed, means for forming successive portions of this wire into staples, comprising a reciprocable slide and an anvil around which the portions of wire fed by the slides are formed into staples, said anvil having a cam surface adapted to be engaged by a cam surface on the said slide to cause the anvil to be retracted from the path of the slide.

2. In a machine for forming wire fabric composed of wires secured together at their points of intersection by means of wire locks the combination therewith of means adapted to feed wire to the machine from which the wire locks may be formed, means for forming successive portions of this wire into staples, comprising a reciprocable slide and an anvil around which the portions of wire fed by the slides are formed into staples, said anvils being reciprocated into and out of the path of the slide by means of an eccentric or crank engaging the anvil.

3. In a machine for forming wire fabric, the combination therewith of reciprocable slides for forming and feeding wire staples for the formation of wire locks for securing the fabric wiresl together, and reciprocable bars for actuating said slides, the said slides and bars being provided with teeth inclined to their respective directions of motion. 4. In a machine for forming wire fabric, the

rocable bar by being engaged with one of a plu-' rality of openings or other engagement means the spacing apart of which is adapted to the spacing ofthe teeth on the staple-forming slides and said bar topermit of adjustment of the position of the slides.

5. In a machine for forming wire fabric composed of wires secured together at their points of intersection by means of wire locks the combination therewith of means adapted to feed the wire to the machine from which the wire locks are formed comprising a casing, a slide reciprocable within said casing, means for feeding wire to the interior of the said casing in advance of the forward end of said slide, an anvil reciprocable transversely with respect to the slide into the path thereof and in advance of the wire within the space in the casing in which the slide is accommodated, this wire being bent around the anvil to form a staple from which a wire lock is formed and a plunger on 7 said slide, which plunger projects from the forward end of the slide so as to contact with the wire within the casing in order to maintain this wire in correct position for engagement with the anvil.

6. Means for feeding wire comprising a sleeve having a tapered interior surface, means for reciprocating the sleeve, a plug within the sleeve having a central bore through which the Wire passes and having openings in its side wall which communicate with the said bore and with the said tapered sleeve surface, said plug being coaxial with the sleeve, balls provided one in each said opening so as to grip and feed the wire upon reciprocation of the sleeve in one direction, and an adjustable screw plug confining the first said plug within the sleeve, the said adjustable screw plug being so adjusted that upon the return movement of the sleeve the balls are positively maintained in sliding engagement with the wire.

ARTHUR ERNEST BLASHILL. 

